French's International Copyrighted (inEnf^land, hor Coloni-^s, and 
the United States) Edition of the Works of the Best Authors 



The Christmas Burglar 

a pla^ in ©ne Bet 

BY 

MARY H. PLANNER 

Author of "Bargain Day." 

Copyright, 1913, by Samuel French 

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 



CAUTION.— The professional aotin^ rights of this play are 
reserved hy the publisher, Samuel French, 28-30 West 
38th St., Ne^v York, and is subject to a royalty w^hen pro- 
duced, and permission for such performances must be 
obtained before performances are ftiven. This notice does 
not apply to amateurs, M'ho may perform the play M^ithont 
permission. All professional unauthorized productions 'w^ill 
be prosecuted to 4he full extent of the law. 



PRICE 25 CENTS 



New York 
SAMUEL FRENCH 

PUBLISHER 

28-CO WEST 38th STREET 



London 

SAMUEL FRENCH, Ltd. 

26 Southampton Street 

STRAND 



The Christmas Burglar 

U plae in €)ne Bet 

BY 

MARY H. PLANNER 

Author of "Bargain Day." 



Copyright, 1913, by Samuel French 



ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 



CAUTION The professional acting rights of this plaF are 

reserved by the publisher, Samnel French, 28-30 West 
3Sth St., ]Ne>v York, and is subject to a royalty -when pro* 
duoed, and permission lor such performances must be 
obtained before performances are £iven* This notice doea 
not apply to amateurs, '«v-ho may perform the play -without 
permission. All professional unauthorized produotions -will 
be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. 



New York 
SAMUEL FRENCH 

PUBLISHER 

28-30 WEST 38th Street 



London 
SAMUEL FRENCH, Ltd. 

26 Southampton Street 
STRAND 



THE CHRISTMAS BURGLAR. 



CHARACTERS. 

Professor. — Can be anywhere from fifty years 
up, absent minded and of benevolent turn of mind. 
Kindly in speech. Is an old bachelor who has lived 
alone attended by an only servant. 

Dad. — A thief from environment and weak will 
rather than from innate desire to do wrong. Just 
out of the " pen." 

Meg. — Dad's girl, taken by the Professor when 
Dad is sent up. Is about eleven years old: Keen, 
bright, happy and strangely unspoiled by her life 
among evil characters. Loves and believes in her 
Dad. 

Skin. — A real crook — unscrupulous and hard as 
nails. Shoidd be very thin in appearance and have 
long slim hands. 

Time: — Christmas Eve. 



TMP92-009333 

/ 
0)C!.D 35255 



The Christmas Burglar. 



SCENE. — The Professor's study. There is a door 
L. c, leading into Meg's room, another, prac- 
tical leading out of doors — and a zvindow, prac- 
tical, in plain sight. A Library table has a 
small Christmas tree on it and this table must 
be placed so that it can not be seen by Meg 
when she " backs " out from her room. A 
Basket of tree trimmings is placed at one side 
of the stage where it can be reached conven- 
iently. Chairs, etc., complete the set — with a 
telephone on a desk at the Right. 

Prof, {discovered in act of trimming the tree. 
Stands back and gazes in admiration, — glancing in 
direction of Meg's door. In the glance he has an 
idea and stops in the act of placing a bauble on 
the tree — carried it back to basket and then tiptoes 
to Meg's door, and calls softly) Margaret! Mar- 
garet ! 

Meg. {from ivithin and rather sleepily) Hoo — 
Hoo— 

Prof. Are you asleep? 

Meg. Humph — humph, {yes) I mean 
Humph — humph — {no) Almost. 

Prof. I have a surprise for you. 

Meg. {more awake) O — oo what is it? 

Prof. Come and see. 

Meg. Now, I got 'em on. I c'n almost come. 

Prof. Take your time, dear, take your time. 
{returning to the tree) The dear child. How she 

3 



4 THE CHRISTMAS BURGLAR. 

has improved! Not so much in the matter of 
speech, but in appearance — I shall never forget the 
day the Judge and matron brought her here — 
starved and dying for want of food and love. And 
now she's plump and rosy — and in six months' 
time. Wonderful the improvement — wonderful! 
And I have improved, too — I am not nearly so — 
so — so absent minded. HI can only keep her with 
me and make her forget her miserable father. 
(stands looking about him) 'M 'M. What was I 
about to do? Oh, yes — , to be sure, (turns to 
Margaret's door again) Margaret! 

Meg. (backs in, holding her dress together in 
the back) Would you mind buttonin' me up, 
Proffy. 

Prof, (struggling with the task and getting the 
buttons crooked) Where's Sara? 

Meg. She's gone to bed with the kids — What's 
the surprise, (he prevents her turning just yet) 

Prof. You mean children, Margaret. 

Meg. Humph — humph. Don't you know what 
night this is? Is there a really for-sure surprise? 

Prof, (turns her about) Look!! 

Meg. Gee! Is that the surprise? Where did 
you swipe it? I mean git — gat it? Say c'n I tech 
it? 

Prof. That is your very own Christmas tree, 
Margaret. 

Meg. O, Lordy — 'Scuse me — Say ain't it the 
whole cheese? 

Prof. Cheese? Cheese? 

Prof, (he shakes his head with air of giving it 
up. She walks around the tree touching it lov- 
ingly) I was about to trim it all alone for you — 
when suddenly it occurred to me that you perhaps 
might want to help me — 

Meg. Put the shiny things on? That was a 
bright idee, Proffy — You're a regular Cracker 
Jack. i 



THE CHRISTMAS BURGLAR. 5 

Prof. Margaret, my dear, no doubt the term 
which you have just appHed to me is meant to be 
very compHmentary — but in the future I must ask 
that you refrain from using such an expression. 
It is not correct. Do you understand? 

Meg. You mean you ain't — a Cracker Jack? 
'Scuse me. 

Prof. (looks at her a moment and then gets a 
bauble from basket) Where would you Hke to 
place this? 

Meg. ^Oh, look at it. Ain't it bee-a uu tiful!! 
{hangs it on tree) You got any more? Oh, I 
wish Dad could see it ! 

Prof, {starting towards basket but stopping in 
his surprise) Your father!!! Impossible!! 

Meg. My Dad hain't in the pen no more. He's 
out. He was here this morning. 

Prof. Out? Out of the penitentiary? This is 
most extraordinary ! ! Why, Why I Why ! He has 
not served his time yet ! 

Meg. My Dad's been a good thief : they let him 
out sooner. Won't you let him come see my Christ- 
mas tree? He hain't — 'scuse me isn't never seen 
a real one — not close to it. 

Prof. Margaret, why did you not tell me this 
sooner ? 

Meg. I only knowed it this mornin' an* I tried 
to tell you but you choked me. 

Prof. Choked ! ! 

Meg. Wouldn't let me say nuthin'. You know 
you never let me say nuthin' 'bout Dad since the 
day you brought me here. O, Proffy you've been 
good to me. You've made Sara give me all I could 
eat an' that was a lot at first fer seemed like I was 
holler clear to my toes — an' then you've learned me 
all you know an' I'm much obliged, honest I am — 
but I don't want to UNLEARN my Dad! {stands 
looking at the tree) 

Prof, {after a little wait) Margaret! (she 



6 THE CHRISTMAS BURGLAR. 

turns. He motions her to him and takes her on 
his lap) When you came into this lonely house ten 
months ago, you crept-into this lonely old heart as 
well and I thank the Judge every day for persuad- 
ing me to take you. I think of you always as the 
daughter I might have had if my sweetheart had * 
not died. I want to protect you dear — shield you 
from every ill — watch you grow into a good use- 
ful woman. Some day you will understand. Just 
believe now, that it is best for us not to discuss 
your father. There ! {puts her down pith air of 
having closed the subject) • ' 



Meg. 



{turns to him with almost passio'4^te '^^^M 
sistance) You hain't never even seen my Da'd^havep 
you ? r 

Prof, {with gentle remonstrance) Margaret ! 
• Meg. You hain't, have you? 

Prof. No. I have never seen your father. 

Meg. An' all you know is what the Jedge told 
you. 

Prof. "We'll never get this tree trimmed. 

Meg. You didn't never know nuthin' only what 
the Jedge told you did you? Did you? 

Prof. I know the Judge showed your father 
much clemency from time to time for your sake, 
dear. But when it came to opening a safe and 
robbing a store as your father did — that was too 
serious an offence to be overlooked. The Judge 
could stretch his clemency no further. 

Meg. Your big words goes over m^y head same 
as the Jedge's did the day he sent Dad up. But 
Dad never wanted to crack that safe. Skin Jennings 
made him do it. Dad's afraid o' vSkin. An' Skin 
can make him do anything. Then course Dad got 
caught with the goods an' Skin got loose — Dad 
always gets caught, {cries) 

Prof. There, there !" 
(Meg. Dad's been a perfect gent in the pen. Skin 



THE CHRISTMAS BURGLAR. 7 

never was a good thief — Skin's a dam dog, Skin is. 
{sobs) 

Prof. Margaret ! I — Come — Come 

Meg. Sorry I cussed again, honest, I am — But 

Skin is a d There! I go again, (puts her 

head down in her lap for shame. Prof, is at loss 
how to console her — Looks about and finally gets 
a doll from basket and slips it under her arms in 
her lap) 

Meg. (finally realises the doll is there and 
smiles through her tears) Gee ! hain't I the grumpy 
to be throwin' the weeps when you got me all this? 
V Ain't she a regular Cracker — I ain't goin' to say 
it ! ! Look at her cast her peepers at the tree ! ! 
Say c'n I show her to Dad? You're goin' to let 
him come ain't — 'scuse me, isn't you. Don't turn 
him down. When you've been in the pen you'll 
know how hard it is to git started all over agin. 
Won't you let him come ? Give him a chance 1 

Prof, {after a little time to make up his mind) 

^ Yes, he may come to see the Christmas tree. 

"^ Meg. (hugs him) I knowed you wouldn't turn 

him down. Look! the doll's smilin' too — 'cause 

she's glad you're goin' to let him come. Maybe 

you're goin' to let him stay a while — eh? 

Prof. We'll see, child. We'll see. 

Meg. That means you'll help him. I know. 
When I ask fer sugar on my bread you always say 
we'll see — an' then when Sara ain't lookin' you give 
it to me. (to doll)\ Your grandad's comin' an' 
we gotta git this tree finished. You sit there an* 
watch us. (puts doll in conspicuous place, and runs 
gaily to basket to get the trimmings. Picks up 
Jumping Jack and pulls the strings) Gee git on 
to the legs of the gent. Looks like you Proffy 
when you git in a hurry. Fm goin' to put him on 
the front row. (puts Jumping Jack on limb of the 
tree where it can be seen. Then she and the Prof, 
have bus. ad lib of getting the trimmings — they stop 



8 THE CHRISTMAS BURGLAR. 

to blow horns, exclaim over little surprises — the 
professor entering into the spirit of it with a boy- 
ishness that pleases Meg. This bus. continued to 
point of placing the star) 

Prof. Now dear, you shall hang the star. You 
remember the story of the Star? The Star of 
Bethlehem ? 

Meg. {takes the star and mounts a chair be- 
hind the table to hanq it on tree) Don't you know 
any other Bible stories Proffy? 

Prof. None so appropriate for Christmas eve. 
Don't you like the story of the Star? 

Meg. It's a cute story all right : but Dad could 
never git wise to no star. Ain't there nothin' in 
the Bible 'bout a — a burglar? 

Prof. Yes, dear. The bible speaks of two bur- 
glars — it calls them thieves. And they were hung, 
Margaret- — hung on crosses. And they suffered 
very, very much, and cried aloud for sympathy and 
consolation. 

Meg. Oh — And didn't no one hear 'em? 

Prof. Yes, the Master heard them, and from 
his own cruel cross he comforted them and said: 
" This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise." 

Meg. What is Paradise? 

Prof. Paradise — is — is — a city of peace and 
happiness. 

Meg. And both of the Burglars got to go there. 

Prof. There is room for every one in God's 
city of Peace and happiness. 

Meg. {repeating in awed voice) " Room for — 
every — one.'! {presses the star lovingly to her 
cheek and then puts on tree) That's a jim-dandy 
story. I like it. 

Prof. {helping her down from chair) Now 
you must run back to bed dear. 

Meg. Oh, Gee ! Ain't there goin' to be no lights 
on the Santa Claus Bush? • 

Prof. Lights ? 



THE CHRISTMAS BURGLAR. 9 

Meg. Yes. Candles. 

Prof. Candles? Oh, to be sure, to be sure, (he 
starts to basket, follozved by Meg, but no candles 
can be found) 

Meg. (holding up the candle-holders) Here's 
the chanderlierses— but there hain't nothin' to put 
in 'em. 

Prof, (scratches his head a moment in perplex- 
ity) Then— Get me my hat and coat, Margaret. 

Meg. Where you goin'. 

Prof. I am going to the store for candles. Who 
ever heard tell of a Christmas tree without candles? 
My hat and coat. 

Meg. ' Oh, Goody — but ain't— isn't 

Prof. Aren't— — - 

Meg. Are-ent you too tired? 

Prof. Too tired to go for candles for a little 
girl's first Christmas tree— when that little girl is 
YOU ? Hurry with my hat and coat. 

(Meg exits to return at once with the hat and coat.) 

Prof. And now my gloves — (she gets them 
from his pocket) And where did I put my hat? 
O, on my head, of course. Ah— Let me see have 
I any change — (takes out rather large zvallet) 
Rather more than I shall need— but I will be care- 
ful, (starts) I'll not be gone long, dear. I wish 
Sara were here — but you are not afraid? 

Meg. No. 

Prof, (he tries the window) That is locked 
tight, (starts) Ah — be sure you do not open the 
door for any one until I return. 

Meg. I won't. 

Prof. Lock the door after me dear — and re- 
member do not open it until I return. — (disap- 
pears) 

Meg. (locks the door and comes to her doll) I 
never had such a lovely Christmas eve in all my 



10 THE CHRISTMAS BURGLAR. 

life. Ain't you glad you dropped into this fambly? 
Only one thing against 'em. You have to sweep 
under the bed — amd wash behind your ears, it's 
awful, but it's respecable an' you git used to it. 
(Dad taps at window) Wha'/s that noise? {to 
doll) Don't be afraid? I — I — hain't. 

Dad. Kid! Kid! 

Meg. {puts doll down and goes to window) Oh, 
is it you Dad? 
- Dad. Yes, open the door. I'm freezin'. 

Meg. {starts and then remembers) I — I — can't. 

Dad. Let me in Kid — 

Meg. {at window) Wait a minnit — I'll git you 
somethin' to put around you. 

Dad. That'll help a lot — What's the matter with 
my comin' in? I'm used to gittin' in by windows — 
{jumps on in before she can say anything. Puts 
down but does not lock windozv. Pause) Hain't 
you goin' to ask me to have a chair? Don't seem's 
pleased to see me as you was this mornin'. 

Meg. Dad — You've been drinkin' — I thought 
you was straight. 

Dad. Don't begin that song-and-dance. Gent 
hain't in, eh? 

Meg. How'd you know? 

Dad. Been hangin' 'round — saw him heel it fer 
a car._ 

"IVTEGr {alert) Dad!! Dad! You hain't— spot- 
tin' this house? 

Dad. Cut that out, kid. You know I never done 
dirt to one that done me a good turn. 

Meg. {relieved) Then you are on the level. 
I'm glad — only — 

Dad. More objections — eh? Sure sign you're 
risin' in the world when you can object — 

Meg.' I was just wishin' you hadn't come in the 
way you did — 

Dad. Maybe I'd better go out an' come in by the 
door — respectable like? {starts) 



± 



THE CHRISTMAS BURGLAR. ii 



Meg. No, No ! I promised the Profify I wouldn't 
unlock the door — an' — I hain't never lied to him, 
Dad. 

Dad. (somezvhat sobered — sits dozvn) You're 
a good kid, honey. 

,' Meg. You're good, too. Dad. You told me this 
mornin' you was on the square. Ain't it so Dad? 

Dad. {trying to evade her questioning) Here, 
turn 'round. Guess I'm a little ahead of the gent 
when it comes to buttonin' you up. 
^,i_ Meg. Dad, they let you out ahead o' time 'cause 
you was straight in the pen, didn't they? 

Dad. It's easier in the pen. Nobody wants to 
have a jail-bird. Everybody's agin him when he 
gits out. 

■J^ Meg. Proffy hain't aginst you. He's goin' to 
give you work — maybe. 

Dad. Humph ! Maybe ! 
JAMeg. He is, 'cause he promised me this morn- 
in' — I coaxed him. 

Dad. Why didn't you tell me this this mornin'? 
, Meg. I didn't know it then. Hain't you goin' 
to take your chance if he gives it to you? 

Dad. You coaxed him! I might 'a knowed. 
. Meg. What d' 3^ou mean Dad? 

Dad. You coaxed him. Meg, kid — the chap- 
lain told us a story onct 'bout a posey that growed 
up white an' purty in a pond of dirt an' mud. I 
reckon that's a true story Kid — 'cause you're like 
that posey. Ef your mother'd lived maybe things'd 
been different — Maybe — I dunno. You're like 
her, honey an' she was the right sort — never fer- 
git that. She was the right sort. You've got the 
same blue eyes, kid, an' the same straight look in 
'em. She would 'a fitted into a palace like this, 
same's you. {puts her from him, wearily and 
gets on his feet) I must be goin' 'fore the gent 
gits back. 

Meg. Where you goin' Dad? 



12 THE CHRISTMAS BURGLAR. 

Dad. (evasively) Down town — I guess. 

Meg. What you goin' to do, Dad? 

Dad. You're askin' lots a questions. 

Meg. Dad! You've joined the gang! I know 
it ! ! ! 

Dad. (trying to be firm) I hain't goin' to stand 
no preachin'. 

Meg. Skin Jennings's got you on the string! 

Dad. (looking 'round in fear at the name of 
Skin) Don't you say nothin' ginst Skin — He's all 
right. 

y Meg. Then he's got you Dad. What's he doin' 
'Dad? What's he doin'? 

Dad. Sh ! ! He's workin' the Christmas trees — 
Good stuff — some of 'em. 

Meg. You're not goin' from here tonight. 

Dad. Not goin' — Ha — ha — Kid — I got to go. 
' "Meg. Proffy said you might come tomorrow — • 
He won't care if you come a little sooner. I'll 
splain it all to him. 

Dad. That'll do to say — but I know the world 
kid — an' the professor'll be like all the rest. He 
won't want a jail-bird — Good night, (starts) 

Meg. Dad — Did you say Skin's workin' the 
trees — What — What if he should spot mine. You 
wouldn't want him to git mine would you Dad? 

Dad. (bridling) I'd like to see him try it. 
"/Meg. {pulling him back eagerly) You hadn't 
noticed it had you? Look hain't it a beaut? 

Dad. (looking and becoming interested) An' 

the gent fixed it all f er you ? 

^ Meg. Per you, too Dad. Hones' he did. An' 

the doll — Look! Ain't she a cracker— No she 

ain't — but she's beeaauutiful ! Take hold of her — 

Dad. (holding the doll azvkzvardly) You never 
had one like that before — did you kid? 

Meg. No. 

Dad. Your mother used to fix you dolls to play 
with — I remember once she dressed up the rollin' 



THE CHRISTMAS BURGLAR. 17 

Prof. Yes, yes. Now that you remind me I 
recall there was another — a thief here — most dis- 
agreeable — You've caught him — Well, I con- 
gratulate you sir — In the morning, yes — Good 
night 

Meg. Dad. Dad! You're free!! They've got 
Skin ! ! 

Prof, (shakes Dad's hands) Free, my man! 

Dad. Say it again ! ! Thank God — O Meg Kid — 
Kid! 

Meg. Light the candles, Proffy, quick — (bells 
are heard. X-mas Bells) 



CURTAIN. 



THE CHRISTMAS BURGLAR. 13 

pin an' you thought it was great, {hands back the 
doll. Starts) 

/. Meg. 'Course I wanted you to see the tree 
lighted Dad — My very first tree — 

Dad. (turns again to tree) I hain't seen one 
lighted since I went to a Sunday school entertain- 
ment — when I was a little kid O, Hell — kid — I 

must beat it — I can't face the gent. 

Meg, You won't have to. 

Dad. What d' you mean? 

Meg. Listen ! You can step in here in my little 
room — When the tree's all lighted you c'n peek 
thro' the keyhole — An' then when I come to bed, 
I'll let you out. An' I'll tell him all about it to- 
morrow. 

Dad. (giving in at the suggestion) S'pose he 
won't rip you up the back? 

' Meg. He's good — he won't care. Go in my 
room, Dad. 

Dad. (aside) Skin'd never think o' lookin' fer 
me here, (aloud) Well, kid — if you think it's all 
right. 

Meg. Sure. Dad — Go in quick, (professor calls 
at door — ''Margaret") Quick — Proffy's at the 
door. Lay down on the bed and snooze ef you w^ant 
to — (shuts the door) Comin' (goes to door and ad- 
mits the professor) Did you gat — I mean git 'em? 

Prof. Get what, Margaret? 

Meg. The candles. 

Prof. Candles? O, to be sure, to be sure. I 
did go after candles — I was thinking of an experi- 
ence I had at the store and almost forgot the can- 
dles, (divesting himself of his hat and coat, etc., 
and searching for the candles. Finally looks in 
his hat and gets them) Here they are! Right 
where I should not overlook them. As I was say- 
ing Margaret, (they begin to adjust candles dur- 
ing this speech) As I was saying, I had a very 
unpleasant experience at the store. Rather sensa- 



14 THE CHRISTMAS BURGLAR. 

tion is the better word. Yes. You see, I had bought 
the candles and had just taken my wallet from my 
pocket to get the change to pay for them, and as 
I stood holding the pocketbook in this hand, I was 
conscious of another hand — long and very slim — 
(Meg who is putting a candle on tree starts) 

Meg. Did you say long and slim — skinny? 

Prof. Skinny is a better word perhaps. How- 
ever as this very — skinny hand reached stealthily 
towards my wallet — I closed over the money and 
(Skin appears at zvindow and begins to stealthily 
lift the sash) money and cried — ''Thief" Thief" 
{at second " Thief" Skin leaps in at window and 
stands covering the professor with a gun) 

Skin. You did, did you? 

Prof. You are — are the owner of — the hand. I 
saw in — the store. 

Skin. De sime. Out wid de wad — I followed it 
clear here. 

Meg. Don't you dare rob this man — Don't you 
dare. You 

Skin. Hello, kid — Well dis is luck — And a 
Christmas tree. Pll look de tree over when I git 
thro' wid de gent. Out wid de wad, Professor. 

Prof, {he ginning to suspect) How did you 
know my name — my title of professor? 

Skin. Ask me somethin' hard — Say — Pm tired 
holdin' this gun. 

Meg. Proffy, I 

Prof. One moment, Margaret — Are you this 
child's father? 

Skin. Double de wad an' Pll pipe you de news! 

Meg. It's Skin Jennings Proffy, honest to God 
it is. 

Skin. You keep your dam mouth shut. I'm her 
dad, and she's goin' out wid me to-night. I need 
her on a little job. She knows what I mean. 

Meg. Proffy— don't let him take me ! Don't ! ! ! 



THE CHRISTMAS BURGLAR. 15 

Prof. One word, Margaret — the trutli ! Did I 
not leave this window locked? 

Meg. Yes,— But 

Prof. And you unlocked it while I was gone? 
^i Meg. Yes, Proffy— Listen ! ! Listen ! ! Honest 
I hain't lied 

Prof. I'll talk to you later. (to Skin) 
Here is the wallet : It contains all the money I 
have at present. — Take it .and go 

Skin. This is too easy — De kid comes too! 
See! 

Prof. If you touch that child, I'll brain you with 
this chair ! ! ! 

(Skin starts for the child — Prof, makes at him 
with chair — Meg screams — Dad!! Dad!) 

Skin. You see she knows who I am! Let her 
go— let her go ! 

Prof, {puts Meg behind him and makes for Skin 
— Skin levels the gun and fires — just in time to 
catcJi Dad who azvakened by the noise appears at 
door. Dad totters and falls) 

Skin, (looking at Dad) I winged you — did I? 
Well I'll see you later, (makes quick exit through 
the window) 

Meg. (bending over Dad) Dad, dad, are you 
hurt ? Proffy, this is my Dad. I let him in — 'cause 
I wanted to hide him from Skin — and then Skin 
found him. Dad ! Are you hurt ? 
(Prof, and Margaret assist him tenderly to chair 
and find out extent of injury during conversa- 
tion. Arm shozvs zvhere the shot grazed.) 

Dad. It's only a nip — Skin never was good on a 
straight shot, (they bandage arm zvith professo/s 
handkerchief) 

Prof. I'll call the doctor at once. (Prof, starts 

Dad. You're all right honey? An' Skin never 
to 'phone but 'phone rings before he gets there) 
touched the tree ! If he had I'd 

Prof, (at 'phone) Well ring off, I wish to — 



DEC § H^... 

i6 THE CHRISTMAS BURGLAR. 

How's that? I wish to call a doctor — Yes — 
Main 189, — Doctor?? I have a man here with an 
arm that needs a little attention — Slightly only. 
Yes, please, {comes back and looks at Dad) Do 
you know you create a much more favorable im- 
pression on me than — than — the — ahem — the man 
who left a moment ago. 

Dad. I'm sorry I butted in here an' caused you 
all this trouble. You've been good to her. I'm 
much obliged. She'll be a credit to you some day. — 
Good night ! (starts) 

Meg. Dad!! (looks appealingly at Prof, who 
nods approval) Dad! You're goin' to stay! 

(Dad turns and shakes his head.) 

Meg. (comes to him) Yes, you are! Don't you 
know? I coaxed the proffy to give you work! 

(Dad looks at Prof.) 

Prof. I want to help you. 

Dad. (joyed at first and then remembering) No. 
It's too late. You heard what Skin said. He 
knows where I am 



Prof. My good man — you're nervous and- 



Dad. You don't know Skin ! He never let's go. 
I'm afraid. I'm afraid! (starts. 'Phone rings 
again) 
. Meg. Wait a minnit. (Dad halts) 

Prof. No doubt the doctor, (at 'phone) Yes. 
Yes. Oh, yes, Mr. Officer. Yes, there was a 
burglar here — Well he's here yet. I say he's here 
yet. 

Meg. Oh, Proffy! 

Dad. It's all right, Kid ! it's safer in the pen. 

Prof. How's that? Long slim hands? 

Meg. Oh, Dad! That's Skin! Maybe they've 
got him! 



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